Leila Slimani discusses challenges of Arab identity at Folio Festival

During the Folio International Literary Festival in Óbidos, Franco-Moroccan author Leila Slimani discussed the challenges of maintaining Arab identity in the modern era. Slimani stated that it has been difficult for the last few decades to feel pride in being Arab or Maghrebi due to widespread poverty, corruption, dictatorships, and the rise of Islamic fundamentalism.

Slimani noted that the perception of Arab civilization is often “cruel and very disdainful,” adding that regional leaders have also contributed to this degradation. The author, a recipient of the Simone de Beauvoir Prize for Women's Freedom for her human rights activism, also addressed the difficulty for younger generations to build a serene identity as Arab Muslim women in the current global climate.

The festival, themed “Beyond the Skin,” also featured discussions involving Indian author Kiran Desai and Brazilian writer Vera Iaconelli.